Microsoft PR Release about HD DVD:

[Don Borvio]

Care of HardOCP.com:

Microsoft’s PR team sent out this statement regarding the recent developments in the HD DVD camp and rumors that there will be a Xbox 360 Blu-ray add-on drive in the near future:

“We do not believe the recent reports about HD DVD will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace. As we’ve long stated, we believe it is games that sell consoles and Xbox 360 continues to have the largest next-gen games library with the most exclusives and best selling games in the industry. We will wait until we hear from Toshiba before announcing any specific plans around the Xbox 360 HD DVD player. HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room along with playback of the DVD movies they already own.”

[E-Dogg]

is dead.... is the future and about time everyone accepts that truth. The battle was fought and there could be only one winner. Now, let's get onto the real fight againt dvd.

[Motorheadache]

HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room along with playback of the DVD movies they already own.”

Wasn't that their plan all along? Keep the format war going to pave the way for digital downloading? I couldn't figure out any other reason they would support HD-DVD since a) They are not a movie studio and b) Their X-Box 360 does not use HD-DVD for games.

[melodywhore]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

is dead.... is the future and about time everyone accepts that truth. The battle was fought and there could be only one winner. Now, let's get onto the real fight againt dvd.

yeah i know... hd dvd has been dead since jan 4, right? are you trying to convince yourself or everyone else?

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by melodywhore

yeah i know... hd dvd has been dead since jan 4, right? are you trying to convince yourself or everyone else?

Today is a glorious day. I'm so glad you're here to enjoy it with us all.

[Windows V]

Originally Posted by melodywhore

yeah i know... hd dvd has been dead since jan 4, right? are you trying to convince yourself or everyone else?

Do you disagree?

I don't think he's trying to convince anyone of anything, merely stating the obvious.

Speaking of which, Microsoft is doing the same. Obviously, XBox360 has hardly been marketed for its HD-DVD playback capabilities.

[Jason One]

Originally Posted by melodywhore

yeah i know... hd dvd has been dead since jan 4, right? are you trying to convince yourself or everyone else?

Maybe if you wish hard enough, HD DVD will magically be saved.

[AnimalMother]

Vindicated, bitches.

[DaleDark]

It's pretty telling how MS just happened to sneak that "digital distribution" bit into their press release. I gotta say while I have no feelings of malice towards HD-DVD, Toshiba or the supporters of that format, MS can go eat a giant bag of dicks. Please pardon my slip into regression ............

[Favelle]

Who's the ugly Chinese dude?

[issa3032]

That "ugly Chinese dude" you're referring to is Ken Kutaragi. The Father of the Playstation. He is the main man responsible for the tech specs of the PS3 including such stuff as Blu-ray and the Cell Processor.
He was unceremoniously fired by Sony after the early troubles of the PS3 but now it goes to show he had way more foresight than even his company gave him credit for.
And for the record, he's Japanese NOT Chinese.

[Inglix the Mad]

Originally Posted by melodywhore

yeah i know... hd dvd has been dead since jan 4, right? are you trying to convince yourself or everyone else?

Curiosity kills mate: What will you do if is truly, and finally, canned?

Wait for the fantasy of digital downloads? I mean, with traffic-shaping, probable catalog issues (similar to iTunes), lower quality, long delivery times, lack of a physical medium, et al., I doubt digital downloads will be satisfactory. Will you tolerate all of that, especially if you're one of the people in America with broadband of less than 2MBit/s download speed?

Will you stick with S-DVD? Even with lower resolution, lossy sound, et al?

This reminds me of people with the Ford vs GM vs Dodge or Honda vs Toyota.

I feel bad for ya mate... but I'll still be in the end. I want Hi-Def movies, not kinda Hi-Def. I think you'd be better served by working with other movie lovers to get better transfers / extras.

[Gbeav]

Originally Posted by AnimalMother

Vindicated, bitches.

He should be sent a HUGE bonus.

[Sus Ano]

Originally Posted by issa3032

That "ugly Chinese dude" you're referring to is Ken Kutaragi. The Father of the Playstation. He is the main man responsible for the tech specs of the PS3 including such stuff as Blu-ray and the Cell Processor.
He was unceremoniously fired by Sony after the early troubles of the PS3 but now it goes to show he had way more foresight than even his company gave him credit for.
And for the record, he's Japanese NOT Chinese.

Whoa Whoa Whoa.

I have no doubt the Ken will have turned out to have developed a wonderful console whose capabilities will blow our minds in five years. He is absolutely a mad scientist when it comes to tech. But as Toshiba so clearly demonstrated good tech only takes you so far.

Successfully launching a video format is a massive undertaking requiring the cooperation of 100s of companies many of which compete with each other. It requires marketing, studio support, production, and retail support all working well with each other. Ken may turn out to get a lot of credit for the tech in the PS3 (and it will likely be well deserved). But I saw no evidence he was a businessman capable of juggling 100s of demands and agendas at once.

Without Kaz Hirai and Howard Stringer handling the much more difficult business of turning tech into a viable marketable format I don't know that we would be seeing the end of HD-DVD tonight.

[Favelle]

Originally Posted by issa3032

And for the record, he's Japanese NOT Chinese.

Hence the winking emoticon......